The Ministry of Public Health spokesman announced Tuesday that it is ceasing the issuance of daily SARS surveillance reports because the latest outbreak had been controlled. The "zero report" mechanism, which required local health authorities to deliver a daily SARS report even if no cases are identified, was also suspended.

However, monitoring of severe acute respiratory syndrome will continue using the nationwide computer network through which all mandatorily reported communicable diseases are monitored.

On April 22, Beijing reported its first SARS-related case of this spring. By May 21, when Beijing's last SARS patient was discharged from Ditan Hospital, China reported a total of nine SARS cases: seven in Beijing and two in Anhui Province.

No confirmed or suspected SARS cases were reported in other places on the Chinese mainland.

During this outbreak, Beijing's seven SARS patients all recovered from the disease. One Anhui patient died and the other recovered.

On May 23, all 747 people in Beijing who had had close contact with the patients were removed from isolation, marking the end of the outbreak.

The spokesman also said that the ministry remains vigilant despite ending the daily reports. It has directed local health authorities to continue improving surveillance of pneumonia cases that have no clear causes, strengthening law enforcement efforts and setting up a long-term mechanism to prevent serious communicable diseases.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2004)